Nigeria’s apex court the Supreme Court on Thursday fixed 15 December for judgement in the Nigerian government’s appeal challenging the lower court’s order for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been detained for over two years after he was repatriated from Kenya to Nigeria.
Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on 13 October last year, dismissed the terrorism and treasonable felony charges filed against Mr Kanu on the basis of his agitation for the secession of a Biafra Republic, comprising the five South-east states and parts of neighbouring states, from Nigeria.
The court, in its decision, ordered Mr Kanu’s release from the detention of Nigeria’s secret police, the State Security Service (SSS).
The Court of Appeal made the orders on the grounds that the federal government’s manner of repatriating the IPOB leader from Kenya was illegal.
But the court would later suspend the execution of the release of Mr Kanu to afford the government time to pursue its appeal against the decision at the Supreme Court.
Displeased with the partial discharge handed down by the court, Mr Kanu proceeded on appeal to the Court of Appeal in Abuja to attack the rest of the seven counts.
The Court of Appeal acceded to his request by dismissing the remaining seven counts and ordering his release from custody in its judgement handed down on 13 October 2022.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome maintained that his client was being detained in gross violation of both local and international laws.
He, therefore, urged the Supreme Court to uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal and order the immediate release of Kanu from detention.
